Golem said that whatever design the community and consultants settle on will have to be phased in over time, and he urged residents to focus on making the new center a pleasant space that others want to be in.

“They don’t want just a building to meet their needs,” he said. “They want a place they enjoy being.”

The 50 or so attendees then broke out in groups to design their ideal Intermodal Transportation Center. Resident Miguel Aguirre didn’t need the plastic figures and foam core boards that the consultants provided, though. He brought in his own colorful Lego model, which measured about 4 feet long and 2 feet tall, complete with a subterranean element, a rooftop park and three towers for residential, hotel and office use. The design, which he says reflects what the community wants, is “destination-oriented” and includes more than 350,000 square feet of shops.

“I don’t agree with the survey results,” he explained. “I think they’re being very conservative.”

Community Planning Group member Matthew Paredes said that the transit center is a unique feature of the San Ysidro community, which is why so many care deeply about its future.